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Burstone 1985
Burstone 1985
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Chinese NiTi wire was studied by means of a bending test to determine wire stiffness, springback, and maximum
bending moments. Chinese NiTi wire has an unusual deactivation curve (unlike steel and nitinol wires) in which
relatively constant forces are produced over a long range of action. The characteristic flexural stiffness of
NiTi wire is determined by the amount of activation. At large activations NiTi wires has a stiffness of only 7% that
of a comparable stainless steel wire, and at small activations 28% of steel wire. For the same activation at
large deflections, the forces produced are 38% that of a comparable nitinol wire. Chinese NiTi wire demonstrates
phenomenal springback. It can be deflected 1.8 times as far as nitinol wire or 4.4 times as far as stainless
steel wire without appreciable permanent deformation. NiTi wire is highly useful in clinical situations that require a
low-stiffness wire with an extremely large springback.
445
446 Burstone, Qin, and Morton
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Stainless 1,400 27 9
steel, 0.016
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Nitinol, 0.016 97.5 69 25
inch
Chinese NiTi, 805 24 40
0.016 inch
from the beginning to the end of the unloading curve recovery. The Chinese NiTi wire has a recovery of 91%
gives a slightly higher stiffness. The overall conclusions for 1,233 gm-mm. Thus, the NiTi wire, in comparison
remain the same. to other wires, has a wide range of useful springback
beyond the point where initial permanent deformation
The maximum moment is observed.
Varying types of tooth movement require the deliv-
ery of different magnitudes of force. Unless an ortho- Temperature-dependent effects
dontic wire is capable of delivering an adequate moment The mechanical properties of stainless steel do not
before permanently deforming, it may not be satisfac- vary at the temperatures commonly used for clinical
tory for a given application. It has been suggested pre- purposes. Nitinol wires show negligible differences in
viously that two maximum moments should be consid- stiffness or springback between room temperature and
ered-the point of yield measured at 1” of permanent mouth temperature (Fig. 8). Chinese NiTi wire, on the
deformation (M,) and the highest moment produced other hand, exhibits some small differences at varying
after considerable yielding (M,,,).6 In this study the mo- temperatures because material components have lower
ment for stainless steel at 1” of permanent deformation transition temperatures. In Fig. 9 the stiffness is ap-
(M,) was found at 9” of activation and its magnitude proximately the same between room temperature at
was 1,400 gm-mm (Table I). The nitinol wire exhibited 22” C and mouth temperature at 37” C. At a temperature
M, at 25” with a moment value of 975 gm-mm and the of 60” C, the loading curve is slightly higher and the
Chinese NiTi wire. at 40” with 805 gm-mm. The ulti- unloading curve loses its S shape and exhibits greater
mate moment (M,,J, which occurs after considerable permanent deformation and less springback. Since the
permanent deformation, is somewhat easier to establish wire is normally used between room temperature and
with stainless steel wires. M,it occurs where the change mouth temperature, these temperature-dependent ef-
of the slope of the loading curve becomes minimum or fects are clinically insignificant.
when an increase in deflection produces little or no
increase in the measured moment. This ultimate mo- Time-dependent effects
ment is much more difficult to determine with nitinol Stainless steel wires are resistant to additional per-
and NiTi wires because the geometry of loading manent deformation that occurs with time. Some stress
changes with the large deflections required. Therefore, relaxation may occur, but the effects are not significant.
for convenience, we have used the moment produced The 0.016-inch stainless steel, nitinol, and Chinese
at 80” of activation instead of the maximum ultimate NiTi wires were engaged in brackets placed interprox-
moment that can be produced by the wire. At 80” the imally 3 mm apart with a 6.5 mm occlusogingival dis-
ultimate moments produced were: 3,067 gm-mm for crepancy between the center bracket and the adjacent
stainless steel wire, 2112 gm-mm for Nitinol wire, and ones (Fig. 10). The wires remained tied in for periods
1,233 gm-mm for Chinese NiTi wire. As shown in of 1 minute, 1 hour, and 72 hours. It should be noted
Table II, these values should be taken in the context of that, over 1 minute, the Chinese NiTi wire deformed
the amount of permanent deformation produced in the a limited amount, compared to the nitinol and stainless
wire. Although the stainless steel wire delivers 3,067 steel wires which deformed considerably. Furthermore,
gm-mm, the percent of the recovery of the wire is only the nitinol wire continued to show a time-dependent
20%.* The nitinol wire at 2,112 gm-mm has a 65% deformation past the initial 5 minutes. This has been
reported previously.’ Although NiTi wires show some
Springback time-dependent effects, these are insignificant at room
*Percent recovery = ~ x loo.
Activation temperature.
450 Burstone, Qin, and Morton Am. J. Orthod.
June 1985
Clinical significance and discussion approximately one half of the moment. Nevertheless,
Because of its high range of action or springback, from this point on, with continued unloading, the stiff-
Chinese NiTi wire is applicable in situations where ness of the wires would be the same. Thus, the NiTi
large deflections are required. Applications include wire in its middle range of deactivation could deliver
straight-wire procedures when teeth are badly mal- a higher level of force than a given braided wire, al-
aligned and in appliances designed to deliver constant though both deliver equivalently constant forces for the
forces during major stages of tooth movement. The same activation.
amount of deformation without notable permanent set The moment at yield of the NiTi wire, although
is remarkable-4.4 times that of the stainless steel wire lower than that of the stainless steel wire, is comparable
and 1.6 times that of the nitinol wire (based on 1” of to the nitinol wire and considerably higher than what
permanent deformation). I-6 would be available in braided steel wires of comparable
Achievement of relatively constant forces has been stiffness. The ultimate maximum moment of the nitinol
obtained traditionally by lowering the load-deflection wire is much higher than that of the NiTi wire. This
rate of the orthodontic appliance. This has been accom- may or may not be advantageous since, at these levels,
plished by configurational design; for instance, placing nitinol wire exhibits much permanent deformation.
helices or additional wire in the appliance. The newer The prediction of force magnitudes delivered by
wire materials such as those used in nitinol and TMA* Chinese NiTi wire is more difficult than with other
reduce the load-deflection rate without a large reduction alloys when the modulus of elasticity can be used with
in the maximum moment. This is caused by their ex- appropriate formulas.8 Nitinol wire’s unloading char-
cellent ratios between yield strength and modulus of acteristic is somewhat problematic because of its non-
elasticity. Another approach is possible with Chinese linearity. Nevertheless, a linear regression line for the
NiTi wire because of its unusual loading-unloading unloading curve could approximate the force conditions
curve. In the middle range of unloading, the load-de- during clinical use, recognizing the inherent inaccuracy.
flection rate is low. The higher stiffness found in the Chinese NiTi wire is even more problematic because
NiTi wire during the final stage of unloading helps the unloading curve is complex and the stiffness de-
assure that not only are the forces delivered at a more pends upon the amount of activation. If one used the
constant rate, but a higher magnitude of force level is linear regression lines from the bending data to deter-
maintained. One might compare the NiTi and the Re- mine the stiffness, the stiffness of a 0.016-inch NiTi
spond wires as they are charted in Fig. 4. If given the wire at large activations (80”) would be 7% that of
full 80” activation, then each wire was allowed to relax stainless steel wire; however, the wire stiffness for a
to 70”. The NiTi wire at 70” would deliver 800 gm- small activation (10”) would be 28% that of stainless
mm and the Respond wire would deliver 439 gm-mm- steel wire (Fig. 11). In other words, for a small acti-
vation NiTi wire would feel more like a 0.015inch
*ORMCO, Glendora, Calif. nitinol wire, and for a large activation it would have
Volume 87 Chinese NiTi wire
Number 6
c
Fig. 10. Time dependent effects. A, The 0.016~inch wires placed into three brackets. B, The shape of
the wires after removal. Top row-stainless steel wire, middle row-nitinol wire, bottom row-NiTi
wire:A, 1 minute. S, 1 hour. C, 3 days. Note small amount of permanent deformation of NiTi wire and
its increasing deformation over time with nitinol wire.
the stiffness of a 0.008-inch stainless steel wire.’ In the Wire Stiffness for
1.0 Identical Cross Sections
future, if NiTi wire is used for calibrated appliances Reference Stiffness (s.s.) = 1.0
with known dimensions and activations, the actual force
system can be determined experimentally and, there- 0.8
fore, the problems of force prediction can easily be
resolved.
0.6
It has been shown that there is a force difference if
the appliance is left in place throughout the deactivation
or if it is removed and retied. The clinician should be a4
aware of this characteristic and should design his treat-
ment accordingly. If no change is desired in the mag-
a2
nitude of a force, it is better to leave a wire in place.
On the other hand, if it is thought that the force levels
have dropped too low for a given type of tooth move- ~
ment, then the simple act of untying and retying can S.S. Nitinol NiTi N iTi Respond
increase the magnitude of the force. (small A) (large A)
The potenial uses of NiTi are many inasmuch as it Fig. 11. Comparison of NiTi wire stiffness to that of wires com-
offers a low-stiffness and high-springback wire for tooth posed of other materials. Stainless steel has a stiffness number
alignment. In addition, if larger cross sections are used, of 1 .O. At small deflections NiTi wire delivers 0.28 x the force
they are capable of delivering the larger moments re- of steel. At large deflections only 0.07 x the force of steel is
quired for major tooth movement, such as root move- delivered for the same activation.
ment and translation.
2. At 80” of activation the average stiffness of
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Chinese NiTi wire is 73% that of stainless steel wire
The new nickel-titanium alloy (Chinese Niti wire) and 36% that of nitinol wire.
described here has the following unique mechanical 3. The unusual nonlinear loading curve builds into
properties: the NiTi wire a constant force mechanism in the middle
1. The wire has a springback that is 4.4 times that range of deactivation. This is potentially a significant
of comparable stainless steel wire and 1.6 times that of design feature for constant-force appliances.
nitinol wire, if springback is measured at yield based 4. Unlike wires of other orthodontic alloys, the
on a S-mm span cantilever test. characteristic stiffness is determined by the amount of
452 Burstone, Qin, and Morton
activation. The load-deformation rate at small activa- 3. Buehler WJ, Gilfrick JV, Wiley RC: Effects of low temperature
phase changes on the mechanical properties of alloys-near com-
tions is considerably higher than that at large acti-
position TiNi. J Appl Physics 34: 1475-1484, 1963.
vations. 4. Andreasen GF, Bigelow H, Andrews JG: 55 Nitinol wire: force
5. NiTi wire deformation is not particularly time- developed as a function of ‘elastic memory ’ Aust Dent J 24: 146.
dependent and, unlike nitinol wire, will not continue 149, 1979.
to deform a significant amount in the mouth between 5. Andreasen GF, Montagano L, Krell D: An investigation of linear
dimensional changes as a function of temperature in an 0.010 inch
adjustments.
%obalt-substituted annealed nitinol alloy wire. AM .I ORTHOD 82:
6. Chinese NiTi wire is highly suitable if low stiff- 469-472, 1982.
ness is required and large deflections are needed. Its 6. Burstone CJ, Goldberg AJ: Maximum forces and deflections from
higher stiffness at small activations make it more ef- orthodontic appliances. AM J ORTHOD 4: 95-103, 1983.
fective than wires of traditional alloys whose force lev- 7. Lopez I, Goldberg AJ, Burstone CJ: Bending characteristics of
nitinol wire. AM J ORTHOD 75: 569-574, 1979.
els may be too low (as teeth approach the passive shape
8. Burstone CJ: Variable modulus orthodontics. AM J ORTHOD 80:
of the wire). l-16, 1981.
REFERENCES
1. Andreasen GF, Hilleman TB: An evaluation of 5.5 cobalt substi- Reprint requests to:
tuted nitinol wire for use in orthodontics. J Am Dent Assoc 82: Dr. Charles J. Burstone
1373-1375, 1971. Department of Orthodontics
2. Buehler WJ: Proceedings of 7th Navy Science (ONR-16 Office University of Connecticut Health Center
of Technical Services, US Department of Commerce, Washing- School of Dental Medicine
ton, DC). Vol. 1, unclassified, 1963. Farmington, CT 06032